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Butler named AL Player of the Week

Butler named AL Player of the Week

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By Tom Singer
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MLB.com |

Billy Butler, the Royals' doubles-hitting machine whose 13 hits led the Majors last week, was named the American League Player of the Week presented by Bank of America on Monday for the period ending Sept. 13.

Butler went 13-for-31 (.419) in seven games, and he had five doubles and two homers, which added up to 24 total bases -- tops in the AL. His 12 RBIs also led all Major League batters.

On Wednesday, against the Tigers, Butler rapped out three doubles for the fourth time this season, twice what any Royals batter has done in the club's history and something not accomplished in the Majors since at least 1900, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Currently riding a nine-game hitting streak, the 23-year-old first baseman tops the Royals in a number of offensive categories, including average (.303), doubles (46) and RBIs (80).

The weekly award is the second of Butler's career, both coming within a month of each other. He had previously been singled out for the week ending Aug. 10.

Other performers considered for the honor were Yankees captain Derek Jeter, whose 2,722nd career hit surpassed Lou Gehrig for the club's all-time lead; Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia (league-leading three home runs and .909 slugging percentage); and Kansas City right-hander Kyle Davies (2-0, 0.82 ERA).

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Change for a Nickel. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.